Faulty tag light leads to arrest on gun, drug charges

July 7, 2011|By Henry Pierson Curtis, Orlando Sentinel

A motorist stopped early Thursday for driving without a tag light has been arrested on drug and gun charges, according to Orlando police.

The arrest is the latest in a series of guns and drugs seized by strict enforcement of traffic and motor vehicle laws. The number of illegal guns seized during traffic stops this year was not immediately available.

About 2 a.m., Marvin Ford was not wearing a seat belt when he was pulled over on LB McLeod Road after police noticed his green Nissan's tag light was not working, and a plastic cover over the tag was faded and caused a glare, a report stated.

Police called a K-9 team to inspect the car for the possible presence of drugs after Ford, 19, declined an officer's request to search him, the report stated.

When the dog arrived 17 minutes later, it alerted to the odor of drugs, which turned out to be several pieces of marijuana inside the vehicle. A loaded .40-caliber pistol was found under the front seat during a subsequent search, the report stated.

Ford was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. During a search that followed, police found five baggies of marijuana in his pants and charged him with armed possession of marijuana with intent to sell, the report stated.